The economic downturn is beginning to reveal underlying resentment of immigration. Poles were all very good when they worked hard (and were praised for their work ethic) and paid their taxes. But during the hard times, our situation gets really nasty.

A Polish friend of mine just called me and with a trembling voice told me what she overheard in a shop while trying on some clothes. A Brit was confiding in the shop assistant that he had lost his job. His wife, an equality manager in a big company, came back from her office the other day, clearly disturbed and shocked, and said that she was told by her boss that she would be sacked if she kept taking care of "those eastern Europeans". Her boss explicitly informed her that he did not give a damn about equality of opportunity if it concerned immigrants from eastern Europe and she had better understand that.

As she does not want to lose her job, she understood that. She returned home, however, and could not come to terms with what had happened. Her whole work was about ensuring that people regardless of their origin, religion or sex were treated equally while applying for a job. And it is still within the scope of her responsibilities – there is just one category fewer to bother about, ie eastern Europeans.

Her husband seemed appalled by the events, even though his own professional situation was not enviable.

What did my friend do? She got scared. As simple as that. The shop was crowded and she felt funny. Insecure. Why? Because at the university when she takes her classes in business administration, she is the only Polish participant and has already heard many times, that Poles are taking the jobs as "cheap labour". She really did not want to hear more.

She also, as she put it, did not want to be heard speaking in an east European accent. So she left the shop.

Discrimination does not have to happen overtly. It can be carried out in a very silent, discreet fashion. Maybe the woman will just have to throw away CVs sent by eastern Europeans, if her boss demands it and threatens her again. Maybe one day she will tell him that he is a criminal and will leave by herself. Maybe not. She has to provide for her family.

Some friends of mine have been already discriminated against at work and much effort was employed by the management to cover it all up nicely. They sought professional help. But usually there are no witnesses to such discrimination, so they were commonly accused of making things up or, worse, playing the immigrant card.

Immigrants are perfect scapegoats, as it is not very difficult to silence them. They might not know their rights. But locals know more. And they are becoming scared, too. If we are all scared, then thugs will get much stronger because this is how they survive – thanks to the silence of the rest.